Folding crate



Feb. 27, 1923. 1,447,055.

EJM. AVERILL.

FOLDING CRATE.. man ocT.|`1,1921.

me/hic@ Patented Feb. 27, 1923.

UNITED ijf.

r Fics..l

FOLDING CRATE. I

Application led October 17, 1921.

To all 'whom it may concer/r1, i

Be it known that I, Ennis M. VERILL, a citizen of the United States. residing at Sparta, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Folding Crate, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to crates or the like, and more particularly to a novel form of folding crate which may be folded into a comparatively small and compact article for return shipment.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a crate of this character wherein the corner connecting members will move, to permit the cover to be secured, it being contemplated to move the end members of the crate tospring the cover in place.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for securing the corner members tothe staves or slats of the cra-te.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter `described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing Figure 1 is a plan view of a crate constructed in accordance with the present invention, showing one end of the crate in dotted lines, as sprung outwardly to permit the cover to be sprung into place.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the plate in its folded position. l

Figure 3 is a fragmental detail view, the same being shown in-section and taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional detail view disclosing the connection between the ends of side and end stays.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the crate embodies side and end members formed of a plurality of longitudinal spaced staves 5, which have slots formed in the ends there- Serial No. 508,217.

of to accommodate the metallic corner members 6, which are in the forms of strips of.

flexible metal bent intermediate their side edges as clearly shown by Figure 5 of the drawing. Suitable securing means such as bolts 7 may be passed through the staves and through the corner members 6, as shown by Figure 5 of the drawing.

The cover which is indicated at 8, is also formed of a plurality of spaced staves connected by means of the bars 9, the endsv of the sta-ves being disposed under the bars 10 which are secured to the uppermost staves of the ends of the crate. The bars 9 are of lengths to extend over the upperedges of the uppermost staves of the crate, as clearly shown by Figure 1 of the drawing, so that the cover 8 will be heldin position thereon. It follows that when a cover is to srsl 'Joy

be positioned, one end of the crate is sprung l or bowed, as shown byFigure 1 'of the drawing. l One end of the cover is now positioned under one of the bars 10, and with the opposite end of the crate in a bowed position, the cover may be easily forced downwardly and into pla-ce.

It will thus be seen that when the end member of the crate has been released, the flexibility of the corner member 6 returns the staves of the end members to their lower p positions. y

If it is desired to fold the crate, the cover and bottom thereof, which it might be stated is identical with the cover structure, are removed, and the body portion of the crate folded to a position as indicated by Figure 2 of the drawing.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is A crate embodying side and end members,

strips of flexible metal connecting the side and end members, saidflexible metal adapted to permit the end members to be bowed outwardly t0 position a cover thereon.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ELIAS M. AVERILL.

lVit-nesses V. G. ANDRUs, E. E. AMIDoN. 

